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Coming off a successful fourth quarter in terms of sales, fast-casual chain Chipotle has announced a major expansion for 2021.
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chipotlanes
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The company just released their fourth quarter earnings figures, which show a revenue growth of over 11%, with same-store sales increasing by almost 6% from October through the end of the year. Digital sales grew by 177% and accounted for nearly half of all transactions. With such a strong year-end performance in the rearview mirror, Chipotle seems to be confident they’ve figured out their secret pandemic weapon: the Chipotlanes. (Related: 100 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet.)
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The modernized drive-thru lanes geared toward order-ahead transactions have been a significant factor in the chain’s growth, said CEO Brian Niccol on this week’s earnings call. Chipotle already started expanding their new locations with Chipotlanes last year, adding the new drive-thru capabilities to 100 newly opened restaurants and retrofitting others. And they plan to continue on the same trajectory this year.
In 2021, the chain plans to open as many as 200 new restaurants, 70% of which will have Chipotlanes. The cleverly branded order-ahead car lanes are easily traceable back to Chipotle’s success. Last year, the locations that had them brought in 10% more revenue than the ones that didn’t.
While we still don’t know what areas Chipotle is targeting for the expansion, the chain announced last year it is looking to expand in both urban and suburban areas. Chipotlanes are currently present in over 30 states, and it is likely Chipotle will introduce them to other states that house their 2,700+ restaurants.
For more on best drive-thru options, check out 8 Best Drive-Thrus in America Right Now, and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to get the latest restaurant news delivered straight to your inbox.
Read the original article on Eat This, Not That!
108 Most Popular Sodas Ranked by How Toxic They Are
By now, you’re well aware that soda is, well, dangerous. It’s the one drink you should simply refrain from sipping on whenever you can. In fact, it just might be contributing to that soda belly of yours.In a study of about 1,000 adults over the course of six years, people who drank soda or other sugar-sweetened beverages gained an extra 1.8 pounds of visceral fat—the fat that sits inside your gut, damaging your internal organs and pushing your belly out. And visceral fat has been shown to increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, among other ills. Yikes.So why is soda so good at making us look bad? It’s the sugar. The American Heart Association recommends women consume no more than 25 grams or 6 teaspoons per day on sugar and men no more than 36 grams or 9 teaspoons per day.This amount is about 20 grams less than the usual 45 grams of sugar found in many sodas and other sweetened beverages. And if it’s not sugar, then it’s artificial sweetener, which is 180 times sweeter than sugar and more damaging to your waistline.To help you make better choices, we’ve ranked more than 100 of the most popular sodas. We look at calories, sodium, carbs, sugar and examined each can’s ingredients, and gave demerits to sodas with more chemicals and additives than those that were nutritionally similar.Check out where your favorite fizzy drinks fall in our best and worst sodas list, ranked from worst-to-best. (Although, “best” still doesn’t mean healthy!) And if you’re looking for what you else you should keep out of your diet, avoid any of the 100 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet.Read the original article on Eat This, Not That!
108. Coca-Cola Cinnamon
Per 20 fl oz: 240 calories, 55 mg sodium, 65 g carbs (65 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavors, Caffeine
Coca-Cola breaks out this cinnamon flavor during the holiday season, so you might be tempted to stock up on some bottles when you see them finally on store shelves. Just because it’s a limited-time flavor doesn’t excuse it from our list! The fact that one bottle is packing 240 calories and as much sugar as five chocolate-frosted donuts from Dunkin’ are enough reasons to leave it alone.
107. Fanta Piña Colada
Nutrition (20 fl oz bottle): 230 calories, 65 mg sodium, 61 g carbs (61 g sugar), 0 g protein
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Malic Acid, Modified Food Starch, Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate (to Protect Taste), Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Glycerol Ester Of Rosin, Citric Acid
Fanta debuted this soda flavor in 2020 that was described as a drink that tastes like a vacation. During a year when traveling to a tropical island was off-limits, this soda seemed like a nice treat. Well, the sugar here is just through the roof, as you can only buy it in the 20 fl oz bottle size. (Although we have a very strong feeling a can of this stuff wouldn’t be any better…)Instead, add some actual fruit to your water and look back on photos from when you were able to travel freely to satisfy your vacation itch.
106. Surge
Nutrition (per 16 fl oz can): 230 calories, 50 mg sodium, 62 g carbs (56 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Orange Juice Concentrate, Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Potassium Citrate, Caffeine, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Taste), Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Carob Bean Gum, Blue 1
It’s not uncommon for “sodium and potassium benzoate are added to some diet soft drinks and fruit drinks,” Leslie Bonci, RD, tells us. Unfortunately—especially because Surge contains OJ—”they can form benzene, which is a carcinogen when combined with vitamin C, the ascorbic acid in juice or soda,” she says.
105. Crush Pineapple
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 190 calories, 65 mg sodium, 52 g carbs (51 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Acacia Gum, Yellow 5, Brominated, Soybean Oil, Yellow 6
If you think choosing a fruit-based soda is a better option for your health, well, that’s just not true. With 51 grams of sugar in one can, any variation of Crush soda is just a landfill of sugar. Plus, the pineapple flavor contains soybean oil, which has been linked to weight gain.
104. Sunkist Pineapple
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 190 calories, 60 mg sodium, 51 g carbs (51 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Acacia Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Ester Gum, Yellow 5, Yellow 6
The yellow color of this soda doesn’t come from an actual pineapple. That’s all thanks to additives Yellow #5 and Yellow #6, with Yellow #5 even causing allergic-type reactions in some.
103. Crush Peach
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 190 calories, 65 mg sodium, 50 g carbs (49 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Acacia Gum, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Ester Gum, Red 40, Yellow 5
If you ate 12 chocolate glazed munchkins from Dunkin’, you would still consume less sugar than one can of Crush Peach soda. Eating an actual peach? That brings in just about 13 grams of natural sugar—no HFCS in sight.
102. Stewart’s Cherries ‘n Cream Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 190 calories, 70 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (46 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Red 40, Blue 1
While the bright hue of this soda may lure drinkers in, with 46 grams of sugar, it’s best to think twice before taking a sip. Instead, opt for actual strawberries with some whipped cream.
101. Sunkist Fruit Punch
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 60 mg sodium, 49 g carbs (48 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural And Artificial Flavors, Ester Gum, Red 40
Fruit punch is always a rather risky drink choice, as sugar tends to be high, so it’s no surprise this fruit punch soda isn’t necessarily the best option.
100. Fanta Pineapple
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 50 mg sodium, 48 g carbs (48 g sugar)
Ingredients (Pineapple): Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Modified Food Starch, Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Sodium Citrate, Coconut Oil, Salt, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Yellow 5, Yellow 6
With this long list of ingredients, it’s interesting to note that pineapple is not blatantly listed as a main component of this soft drink, but there are plenty of different types of sugar here.
99. Fanta Mango
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 40 mg sodium, 49 g carbs (48 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate (To Protect Taste), Malic Acid, Acacia Gum, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Yellow 6
Just eating a real mango is much cleaner for your health than this beverage. You’ll notice that it, along with many other sodas, contains the thickener gum acacia. It not only has been said to cause flatulence and stomach discomfort in some people when ingested in high quantities but according to A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives, it can also cause allergic reactions such as a skin rash or an asthmatic attack.RELATED: Sign up for our newsletter to get daily recipes and food news in your inbox!
98. Mug Cream Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 60 mg sodium, 47 g carbs (47 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor)
You would have to down 12 servings of Reddi-Wip to equal the calorie count of Mug Cream Soda—and would still need to eat 12 Hershey’s Kisses on top of that to equal the sugar count.
97. Mtn Dew Live Wire
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 65 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (46 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Concentrated Orange Juice, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Gum Arabic, Yellow 6, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor), Yellow 5, Red 40
This version of the Dew is “sparked with orange,” both natural and artificial orange flavor, that is.
96. Mtn Dew Code Red
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 105 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (46 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Orange Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hexametaphosphate (To protect flavor), Sodium Benzoate (Preserves freshness), Natural Flavor, Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Gum Arabic, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To protect flavor), Red 40, Brominated Vegetable Oil, Yellow 5, Blue 1
As we said, Europe and Japan have already banned the flame retardant brominated vegetable oil (BVO) out of their bubbly beverages. If you’re truly trying to get a six-pack, don’t do the Dew in any variation and instead scroll through this comprehensive list of foods that uncover your abs.
95. Mtn Dew
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 60 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (46 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Concentrated Orange Juice, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Erythorbic Acid (Preserves Freshness), Gum Arabic, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor), Brominated Vegetable Oil, Yellow 5
The lime-green soda contains brominated vegetable oil or BVO, a patented flame retardant that acts as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored soda drinks. It’s been banned in Europe and Japan before, and there have even been some reports that those who drank an excessive amount of sodas containing BVO suffered memory loss and skin and nerve problems.
94. Mtn Dew White Out
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 60 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (46 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Gum Arabic, Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Glycerol Ester of Rosin, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor)
This version of the Dew was actually chosen by fans of the classic drink, so the flavor surely is something special. So what exactly is White Out soda? Well, it’s described as “a white blast of smooth citrus flavored Mountain Dew” and it is foggy white in color. All we’re getting from this nutrition breakdown and ingredients list is that it’s something you just should avoid drinking!
93. Mtn Dew Voltage
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 60 mg sodium, 46 g carbs, (46 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Gum Arabic, Sucralose, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor), Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Blue 1, Red 40
This Dew flavor is said to be “charged with raspberry citrus flavor and ginseng.” Again, don’t let the mention of fruit and ginseng here trick you. Those 46 grams of sugar aren’t doing your waistline any favors.
92. A&W Cream Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 70 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (46 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Yucca Extract, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Caffeine
A&W traffics heavily in the nostalgia of the roadside restaurant—the company created the nation’s first chain of them in 1923. But their cream soda is a mix of HFCS and artificial colors and flavors. This is not your grandparents’ soda, in the worst way possible.
91. A&W Root Beer
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 80 mg sodium, 47 g carbs (46 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Quillaia Extract
You gotta love that label: This American classic claims it’s “Made with Aged Vanilla” but we see no mention of “Vanilla Extract” in the ingredients list. Throw in two scoops of vanilla ice cream to make a Root Beer float, and you have more than two day’s worth of sugar in one chilled mug.
90. Crush Cherry
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 70 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (46 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caramel Color, Red 40, Acacia Gum, Blue 1
Oh, caramel color. It’s a very common additive you’ll find in many sodas, coffee drinks, salad dressings, and soup, but it’s also a potential carcinogen.
89. Crush Strawberry
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 70 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (46 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Acacia Gum, Caramel Color, Red 40, Natural And Artificial Flavors
There seems to be no mention of any actual strawberries in this ingredient list, with “natural” flavors coming in last behind HFCS, caramel color, and Red #40.
88. Mello Yello
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 50 mg sodium, 47 g carbs (46 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Concentrated Orange Juice, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Sodium Benzoate and Calcium Disodium EDTA (to Protect Taste), Potassium Citrate, Caffeine, Yellow 5, Carob Bean Gum
This soda—like many others on this list—is sweetened with HFCS, which makes for a shocking sugar count. It’s also colored with that pesky food dye, Yellow #5, a food dye that studies have linked to hyperactivity in children.
87. Stewart’s Orange ‘n Cream Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 180 calories, 80 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Citric Acid, Orange Juice Concentrate, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Modified Corn Starch, Ester Gum, Yellow 6
If you’re looking for a refreshing summer treat with this classic flavor combo, you’re better off eating the classic Creamsicle ice cream bar that’s only 100 calories and 12 grams of sugar.
86. Stewart’s Grape Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 180 calories, 70 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Tartaric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Citric Acid, Artificial Flavors, Red 40, Acacia Gum, Blue 1
This soda sure won’t taste like actual grapes and it contains Blue #1, a food dye that the Center for Science in the Public Interest recommended consumers be wary of.
85. Dr. Brown’s Cream Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 25 mg sodium, 44 g carbs (44 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Citric Acid, Caramel Color
This soda has more calories than a Mountain Dew (though with less artificial colors, thus the better ranking).
84. Norka Cherry-Strawberry
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 15 mg sodium, 44 g carbs (43 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Gum Acacia, FD&C Red #40, Glycerol, Ester Of Wood Rosin
This is another example of don’t let the colorful packaging fool you. This oh-so-sweet soda is chock-full of sugar and toxic ingredients.
83. Dr. Brown’s Root Beer
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 30 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Gum Acacia, Citric Acid
You know when you add some Mentos to a two-liter Diet Coke and the whole thing explodes? (Don’t try that at home.) That’s thanks to the Gum Acacia in the candy, which is listed in A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives as a natural emulsifier and is in the soda, too. Despite its weird name, it’s probably the most natural ingredient in this sugar juice.
82. A-Treat Blue Razz
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 165 calories, 41 g carbs, 30 mg sodium (41 g sugar)
triple-filtered carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, natural and artificial flavoring, citric acid, gum acacia, ester gum, fd&c blue #1, preserved with sodium benzoate, contains no caffeine
This raspberry-flavored drink has more sugar than three Dunkin Donuts glazed donuts. If that isn’t a red flag, we don’t know what is.
81. RC Cola
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 40 mg sodium, 43 g carbs (42 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Natural Flavors, Acacia Gum
Its name refers to “royal crown cola” and it was developed by a pharmacist. With HFCS, caramel color, and 42 grams of sugar in one can, there are much better soda options out there for you.
80. Jarritos Mandarin Soda
Nutrition (12.5 fl oz bottle): 181 calories, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (as preservative), Yellow 6, Red 40
That Yellow 6 and Red 40 seems to be a repeat combo offender. And for 45 grams of sugar, ditch the fizzy stuff and go for a fresh mandarin orange instead.
79. Stewart’s Key Lime Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 180 calories, 65 mg sodium, 44 g carbs (44 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Acacia Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Ester Gum, Brominated Vegetable Oil, Yellow 5, Blue 1
With this list of ingredients, you’re much better off making a key lime pie and eating that instead!
78. Sun Drop Caffeine Free
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 55 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (45 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less Than 2%: Citric Acid, Orange Juice Concentrate, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural Flavors, Acacia Gum, Yellow 5, Ester Gum, Brominated Vegetable Oil
The caffeine-free version of this citrus pop was created because of consumers’ requests for one in 2002, but it comes in with more calories than the original flavor.
77. Sun Drop
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 170 calories, 55 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (45 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less Than 2%: Citric Acid, Orange Juice Concentrate, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caffeine, Natural Flavors, Acacia Gum, Yellow 5, Ester Gum, Brominated Vegetable Oil
Despite its name and flavor, this soda isn’t an orange hue like you would expect. Still, it contains Yellow 5, which gives it that distinct color.
76. Sun Drop Cherry Lemon Citrus
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 55 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (45 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less Than 2%: Citric Acid, Orange Juice Concentrate, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caffeine, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Caramel Color, Acacia Gum, Red 40, Yellow 5, Ester Gum, Brominated Vegetable Oil
The cherry lemon flavor is really packing when it comes to the ingredients—caramel color, Red 40, and Yellow 5. No thanks.
75. Mountain Dew Pitch Black
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 55 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Caffeine, Gum Arabic, Sodium Citrate, Red 40, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor), Sucralose Acetate Isobutyrate, Blue 1
This soda takes classic Mountain Dew and ramps it up with a twist of citrus and dark fruit flavors, but we’re not seeing any actual fruit listed here!
74. Fanta Berry
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 65 mg sodium, 41 g carbs (40 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Malic Acid, Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Blue 1
If you just ate some actual blueberries, you wouldn’t consume any Blue 1, like you get from this soda.
73. Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 25 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Cherry And Other Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), and Artificial Color (Red 40)
Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry would horrify most doctors—and not just because of the sweet stuff. Like Stewart’s cherry flavor—and many of the colored sodas here—this one has the artificial color Red 40.
72. Crush Watermelon
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 65 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural And Artificial Flavors, Red 40
Sipping on a watermelon soda can’t be all that bad, right? Sorry to disappoint, but you’re much better off simply eating watermelon or adding the fruit to some water than sipping on this sugar-filled soda.
71. Barq’s Root Beer
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 70 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Citric Acid, Caffeine, Artificial And Natural Flavors, Acacia
Barq’s Root Beer overall has a slightly less horrifying chemical profile than its competition.
70. Barq’s Creme Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 65 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Caramel Color, Citric Acid
Barq’s creme soda fairs slighting better than its root beer, thanks to being 5 milligrams less in sodium.
69. Barq’s Red Creme Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 60 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (45 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Red 40
Does anyone even know what red creme flavor is? It’s for sure not a natural combination!
68. Fanta Grape
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 40 mg sodium, 44 g carbs (44 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Tartaric Acid, Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Citric Acid, Red 40, Blue 1
Liquefy a bag of Skittles to equal the sweetness of this can of corn syrup, citric acid, and artificial colors. In fact, that bag of Skittles has similar ingredients, including Red 40.
67. Fanta Orange
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 55 mg sodium, 44 g carbs (44 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Natural Flavors, Modified Food Starch, Sodium Polyphosphates, Glycerol Ester Of Rosin, Yellow 6, Red 40
I don’t know about you, but after a long day of hard work and play, I like to sit back and relax and crack open a can of Glycerol Ester Of Rosin (said no one ever). The wood resin is added to fruit sodas to help the fruit-flavored oils mix better with the water. While it’s not necessarily harmful, let us repeat: you’re drinking oil and water.
66. Mtn Dew Major Melon
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 50 mg sodium, 44 g carbs (44 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Gum Arabic, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Glycerol Ester Of Rosin, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor), Red 40
The latest addition to the Dew line-up is eye-catching and welcomes customers to “experience the never-ending funhouse at Major Melon land through a burst of watermelon flavor.” Interesting how watermelon isn’t listed anywhere on the ingredients list…
65. Fanta Strawberry
12 fl oz can: 160 calories, 45 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (44 g sugar)
Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (to protect taste), Red 40
We’re not so sure what the 100% natural flavors are that are boasted about on the can, but there must be some strawberry in here then, in the midst of all those other additives.
64. Stewart’s Wishniak Black Cherry
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 180 calories, 70 mg sodium, 44 g carbs (43 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Sodium Benzoate, Caramel Color, Red 40, Blue 1
With more sugar than seven Chewy Chips Ahoy cookies, Stewart’s Black Cherry would be a “Not That!” because of the sweetness alone—it’s one of the most caloric on this list. And, like many of the soda found here, it also contains the additive caramel coloring.
63. Boylan Shirley Temple
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 180 calories, 30 mg sodium, 43 g carbs (43 g sugar)
Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Fruit And Vegetable Juice For Color, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness)
This childhood favorite is even cuter in a bottle, and although it is high in calories and sugar, it scores lower on the list for fewer ingredients and its use of fruit and veggie juice for coloring rather than artificial dyes.
62. Stewart’s Cream Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 170 calories, 65 mg sodium, 43 g carbs (43 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Artificial Flavors, Quillaia Extract
43 grams of sugar in one soda is a whole lot, even if it is Stewart’s. This childhood favorite can stay on the shelf.
61. Crush Orange
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 70 mg sodium, 43 g carbs (43 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural Flavors, Modified Corn Starch, Ester Gum, Yellow 6, Salt, Red 40
Orange is the original flavor of Crush sodas, but the amount of sugar, the Yellow 6, and Red 40? All just, well, crushing stuff.
60. Crush Grape
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 65 mg sodium, 43 g carbs (43 g sugar)
Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural And Artificial Flavors, Acacia Gum, Red 40, Blue 1
With HFCS, Red 40, and Blue 1 in this soda, we think you’d be better off getting real grape flavor from, well, grapes.
59. RC Cherry Cola
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 40 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (43 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Natural Flavors, Acacia Gum
At 160 calories, these RC drinks weigh in on the more calorie-heavy side of the regular soda options. In fact, for only 30 calories more you could have an entire Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut, and save yourself 33 grams of sugar in the process.
58. Coca-Cola Vanilla
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 35 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavors, Caffeine
It’s probably a good idea to pass on this vanilla coke, if we’re being honest here!
57. Cherry Coca-Cola
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 35 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavors, Caffeine
By now, you might start to see some of the most popular sodas for what they really are: carbonated water, HFCS, some acids, and little else. This classic—once made with real cherry juice—is, unfortunately, a variation on a common blend.
56. Sunkist
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 170 calories, 70 mg sodium, 44 g carbs (43 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Modified Corn Starch, Natural Flavors, Caffeine, Ester Gum, Yellow 6, Red 40
What do you get when you combine carbonated water with High Fructose Corn Syrup and a host of hard-to-pronounce chemicals? This citrus-inspired sip. It gets its alluring orange color from Yellow 5 and Red 40.
55. Mug’s Root Beer
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 65 mg sodium, 43 g carbs (43 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (preserves freshness), Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Modified Food Starch, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor), Quillaia Extract
Quillaia extract? The best (and worst) part of researching these sodas is coming across the many ingredients soda manufacturers add to their concoctions. Quillaia is another tree bark, and it helps your root beer foam up, as A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives points out. Be more scared of the sugar here—you’re basically drinking five root beer-flavored Dum Dums mixed with additives.
54. Wild Cherry Pepsi
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 30 mg sodium, 42 g carbs ( 42 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sugar, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavor, Caffeine, Citric Acid
Nothing wild here—just the same ingredients as most sodas, and as much sugar as more than three cups of cherries (without containing any cherries).
53. Cheerwine
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 25 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)
Ingredients (can): Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Artificial Cherry Flavor, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Flavor), Red 40
But yes, there strikes HFCS, yet again, in the canned version.
52. Virgil’s Handcrafted Root Beer
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 160 calories, 5 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)
Ingredients: Sparkling Filtered Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Caramel Color, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid For Flavor
The root beer is this brand’s original flavor and is actually brewed by hand in small batches.
51. Virgil’s Handcrafted Vanilla Cream Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 160 calories, 5 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)
Ingredients: Sparkling Filtered Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Caramel Color, Natural Flavors
All-natural bourbon vanilla is said on the soda’s site to be the secret to this cream soda’s distinct flavor.
50. Virgil’s Handcrafted Orange Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 160 calories, 5 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)
Ingredients: Sparkling Filtered Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Flavors
The website claims, “Only the finest Spanish oranges make a sweet enough juice with just the right citrus zest to flavor this creamy, bold classic,” and with minimum ingredients, we just might believe it.
49. Virgil’s Handcrafted Black Cherry
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 150 calories, 5 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (42 g sugar)
Ingredients: Sparkling Filtered Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Flavors
The black cherries here add a tart and tangy flavor to this soda.
48. Crush Blue Raspberry
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 60 mg sodium, 41 g carbs (41 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural And Artificial Flavors, Blue 1
Blue raspberry isn’t a naturally-occurring flavor by any means, and the color of this drink comes from you guessed it, Blue 1.
47. Dr Pepper Cherry
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 60 mg sodium, 43 g carbs (41 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less Than 2%: Caramel Color, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Citric Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Malic Acid, Sodium Phosphate, Red 40
Malic acid is found in here, and according to A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives, it’s used as a way to compensate for the lack of fruit in artificially sweetened fruit, so there really isn’t much actual cherry in this drink.
46. Crush Grapefruit
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 60 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (41 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Acacia Gum, Ester Gum, Calcium Disodium EDTA (protect flavor)
Our childhood nostalgia is crushed: This kid-favorite brand has no actual grapefruit. On the bright side, it has no BVO.
45. Hansen’s Root Beer
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 0 mg sodium, 41 g carbs (41 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Filtered Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid
Although this ingredients list isn’t as long as others, it still contains caramel color and a high amount of sugar. Pass!
44. Pepsi-Cola
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 30 mg sodium, 41 g carbs (41 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Sugar, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor
The perennial #2 in the cola wars carries 5 grams more sugar than a 3 Musketeers bar. Let that sink in: One of America’s most popular sodas has that much sugar. Instead of drinking this, make a weight loss smoothie!
43. Pepsi Vanilla
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 30 mg sodium, 41 g carbs (41 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Sorbate (Preserves Freshness), Potassium Citrate, Citric Acid, Caffeine
Adding a twist of vanilla to Pepsi doesn’t change anything and suddenly make it any better for you.
42. Pepsi Real Sugar
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 30 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (40 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Caramel Color, Phosphoric, Acid, Caffeine, Natural Flavor
Sugar is the master of disguise. Maltodextrin, brown rice syrup, dextrose, sucrose—the list goes on. But its most well-known costume, as you know after reading this far, is High Fructose Corn Syrup. Pepsi’s hoping you forget it’s all the same sweet stuff, heavily marketing that this version is formulated with sugar and no HFCS. But in a review of five studies comparing the effects of sugar and HFCS, there was no difference found in changes in blood glucose levels, lipid levels, or appetite between table sugar consumption and HFCS consumption. In other words, your body can’t tell one from the other—they’re both just sugar.
41. Dr Pepper
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 55 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (40 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caffeine
No, an actual doctor didn’t create this soda but if one did, we like to think there would be a lot less sugar and more natural ingredients.
40. Hansen’s Original Cola
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 160 calories, 0 mg sodium, 41 g carbs (40 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Natural Flavor with Extracts of Kola Nuts
Kola nuts are a bonus, but all those acids and caramel color knock this soda down.
39. IBC Root Beer
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 160 calories, 60 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (40 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Modified Food Starch, Citric Acid, Quillaia Extract
This soda is now owned by the Dr Pepper/Snapple group and is said to have a “satisfying richness” in flavor.
38. Stewart’s Birch Beer Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 160 calories, 70 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (40 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Yucca Extract, Acacia Gum
Yucca extract is something different compared to other sodas on this list, but still, it’s chock-full of the typical unhealthy soda ingredients.
37. Maine Root. Mexicane Cola
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 165 calories, 35 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (40 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Pure Water, Fair Trade Certified Organic Cane Sugar, Spices, Caffeine, Phosphoric Acid
Seeing organic sugar cane is a nice change from HFCS, but phosphoric acid is made from phosphate rock, so that’s just something to keep in mind.
36. Maine Root. Root Beer & Maine Root. Ginger Brew
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 165 calories, 35 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (40 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Pure Water, Fair Trade Certified Organic Cane Sugar, Spices
This soda is basically the same nutrition-wise as the one above it, but comes out in a better spot thanks to its somewhat cleaner list of ingredients.
35. Dr Pepper and Cream Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 150 calories, 55 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (39 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Sodium Phosphate
The combination of Dr Pepper and rich cream soda might take you back to your childhood with just one sip, but that’s all you should have. One can comes packing with nearly 40 grams of sugar creating a combination you’re going to want to stay away from.
34. Fanta Green Apple
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 35 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (38 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Natural Flavors, Malic Acid, Citric Acid Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Yellow 5, Acacia Gum, Blue 1
38 grams of sugar is quite a lot, whereas eating a cup of green apple slices comes in at only 11 grams of all-natural sugar.
33. Stewart’s Root Beer
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 150 calories, 70 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (38 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid, Quillaia Extract, Acacia Gum, Yucca Extract
Although this soda was developed to be “the best-tasting root beer,” it certainly isn’t doing you any favors health-wise. If you wouldn’t eat three and half bowls of Apple Jacks, then you should stay away from this root beer. That’s the sugar equivalent of what’s in a 12-ounce can.
32. Pibb Xtra
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 40 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (38 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Sorbate And Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Artificial And Natural Flavors, Caffeine, Monosodium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Polyethylene Glycol
A “spicy” cherry soda found mostly in the South—or in Coke Freestyle machines—Pibb Xtra contains propylene glycol, a preservative, thickening agent, and stabilizer that is found in antifreeze and cosmetics. The soda ranks well because of its calorie count, but we can’t recommend you drink it!
31. 7Up Cherry
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 40 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (38 g sugar)
Ingredients: Filtered Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (preservative), Natural Flavors, Red 40
No caramel color—ranking goes up! Red 40—ranking goes down.
30. Coca-Cola Original
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 45 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (39 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural Flavors, Caffeine
Coca-Cola’s flagship drink is actually less harmful than most of the soda’s on this list. That doesn’t mean you should drink it every day though.
29. 7Up
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 45 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (38 g sugar)
Ingredients: Filtered Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Potassium Citrate, Natural Flavors, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor)
Best part of clear sodas: no caramel color. Worst part: They’re still sodas, and otherwise contain the same ingredients as the rest. This classic, now distributed by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, has lost market share since its 80s heyday, but remains a crisp drink that’s not much better than a Coke.
28. Dr Pepper Cherry Vanilla
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 60 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (38 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less Than 2%: Caramel Color, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Citric Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Caffeine, Malic Acid, Red 40
We’re not seeing any cherry or vanilla listed that high on the list of ingredients in this soda. Any doctor would most like tell you skip out on Dr Pepper.
27. Vernors Ginger Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 55 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (38 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caramel Color, Natural and Artificial Flavors
This soda claims to have an “authentic bold taste,” but we wish there was more actual ginger prominently used here.
26. Squirt Grapefruit Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 50 mg sodium, 39 g carbs (38 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less Than 2%: Grapefruit Juice Concentrate, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Modified Corn Starch, Ester Gum, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Calcium Disodium EDTA (to Protect Flavor)
Squirt soda was invented in 1938 by Herb Bishop in Phoenix, Arizona, so it’s been around for a while! And while there still is HFCS, it is a lower percentage.
25. Jones Cream Soda
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 160 calories, 35 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (38 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Inverted Cane Sugar, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Phosphoric Acid, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (as Preservatives), Calcium Disodium Edta (to Protect Flavor.)
Although it’s a bit higher in calories, this cream soda is made with pure can sugar and not HFCS, making it a better for you option if cream soda is your favorite flavor.
24. Schweppes Raspberry Ginger Ale
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 60 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (38 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural Flavors, Red 40
If only there was actual raspberry in this soda, and we don’t just mean in the “natural flavors.”
23. Sierra Mist Natural Lemon-Lime Soda, Made with Real Sugar
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 35 mg sodium, 37 g carbs (37 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Sugar, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Potassium Citrate, Calcium Disodium EDTA (to Protect Flavor)
This caffeine-free drink is back in its original glory! In July 2018, Sierra Mist returned to its natural formula from 2010, made with real sugar and no stevia.
22. Canada Dry Cranberry Ginger Ale
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 50 mg sodium, 37 g carbs (36 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Red 40, Blue 1
Not seeing any sign of cranberry here, but there is Red 40, which creates the red hue.
21. Canada Dry Ginger Ale and Lemonade
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 50 mg sodium, 36 g carbs (36 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Clarified, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Sodium Benzoate And Potassium Sorbate (Preservatives), Natural Flavors, Acacia Gum, Ester Gum, Yellow 5
The label touts that it’s “made from real ginger & with real juice,” but the only place we guess that ginger might be lurking is in the “natural flavors.”
20. Canada Dry Blackberry Ginger Ale
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 50 mg sodium, 36 g carbs (36 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caramel Color, Red 40, Blue 1
Blackberries are high in vitamin K and are one of the best high-fiber foods you can eat to help your weight-loss goals. But drinking this isn’t going to give you those same benefits!
19. Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 65 mg sodium, 36 g carbs (35 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Green Tea, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Calcium Disodium EDTA (to protect flavor)
It’s nice to see green tea actually listed as an ingredient rather high up on the nutrition breakdownn of this soda. But again, don’t let that trick you into thinking it’s a “healthy” beverage choice!
18. Canada Dry Ginger Ale
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 50 mg sodium, 36 g carbs (35 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Natural Flavors, Caramel Color
Our moms used to give this to us when we had a tummy ache. Now as adults, we get a tummy ache looking at it. The tagline is “Real Ginger, Real Taste” but the main ingredients here are carbonated water and HFCS. But with lower calories than the rest, it ranks rather well on this list.
17. Dr. Brown’s Cel Ray
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 10 mg sodium, 34 g carbs (34 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Extract of Celery Seed with other Natural Flavors, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative) and Caramel Color
The healthiest-sounding soda on this list nearly is. But unfortunately for the fans of this one, Cel Ray blends actual celery seed extract with HFCS.
16. Hansen’s Key Lime Twist
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 140 calories, 0 mg sodium, 35 g carbs (34 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural Fruit Flavors with Extracts of Lemons and Limes
This soda doesn’t have a laundry list of ingredients, which is refreshing to see, but still, it will set you back a decent amount of sugar.
15. Reed’s Ginger Beer
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 140 calories, 40 mg sodium, 35 g carbs (33 g sugar)
Ingredients: Sparkling Filtered Water (Sweetened by a Blend of Raw Cane Sugar, Pineapple Juice From Concentrate and Honey), Fresh Ginger Root, Lemon and Lime Juices From Concentrate and Spices
While the sugar isn’t the lowest in this soda, the list of ingredients is pretty clean overall, making it a better-for-you choice.
14. Seagram’s Ginger Ale
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 130 calories, 40 mg sodium, 33 g carbs (33 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate (To Protect Taste), Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste), Ginger
This soda doesn’t seem like it’s all that bad but it does still have one big caveat: Lisa Moskovitz, RD, founder of The NY Nutrition Group, says “…high fructose corn syrup, which has been shown to increase appetite and, over time, lead to health problems such as obesity and diabetes.” Yeah, yeah, you knew it was bad, but hear us again: HFCS is bad! Still, Seagram’s Ginger Ale has a lower calorie count than most.
13. Blue Sky Root Beer
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 130 calories, 0 mg sodium, 32 g carbs (32 g sugar)
Ingredients: Filtered Carbonated Water, Invert Cane Sugar, Natural Root Beer Flavor, Caramel Color, Citric Acid
Blue Sky prides itself on being a simple soda that is “crafted for real” as its website states.
12. Seagram’s Tonic Water
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 120 calories, 30 mg sodium, 33 g carbs (32 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Quinine And Natural Flavors, Potassium Sorbate (To Protect Taste)
This soda isn’t nearly as high in calories as others on this list, but there’s that HFCS and still 32 grams of sugar, so keep that in mind when cracking open one of these cans.
11. Schweppes Ginger Ale
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 120 calories, 60 mg sodium, 33 g carbs (32 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural Flavors, Natural Colors
This soda has as much HFCS-derived sugar as 10 croissants, and we don’t see ginger on the actual list, unfortunately.
10. Orangina
Nutrition (11.2 fl oz can): 130 calories, 15 mg sodium, 32 g carbs (32 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Orange Juice Concentrate, Sugar Lemon Juice Concentrate, Orange Pulp, Mandarin Pulp, Mandarin Juice Concentrate, Grapefruit Juice Concentrate, Orange Peel Extract, Natural Orange Flavors
Yes, there is some orange and mandarin pulp in here, and it’s great to see the absence of HCFS. But with 32 grams of sugar—28 of which are added sugars—it’s still not a drink we would recommend you have every day.
9. Blue Sky Cola
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 130 calories, 0 mg sodium, 31 g carbs (31 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Filtered Water, Invert Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Tartaric Acid
This is a truly classic cola. Well, as classic as soda can get, as there is still caramel color, but no HFCS!
8. Ale 8 Cherry
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 120 calories 30 mg sodium, 30 g carbs, (30 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated water, sugar, vegetable glycerin, natural cherry flavor, fruit and vegetable juice (color), natural flavors, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservatives), ginger, phosphoric acid, caffeine.
Props to Ale 8 for being the only cherry soda here that doesn’t use red dye 40 to give their pop a bold hue. This Kentucky-based brand swaps the red dye with natural colors from fruit and vegetable juices, and unlike many of the ginger ales the list, it actually includes fresh ginger in their brew.
7. Blue Sky Lemon Lime
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 110 calories, 0 mg sodium, 28 g carbs (28 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Filtered Water, Invert Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors
A short list of ingredients and cane sugar? If you really need to sip on a lemon-lime soda, this is the best one.
6. Sprite
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 100 calories, 45 mg sodium, 27 g carbs (27 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste)
Although Sprite is on the lower end of calories and sugar in one can, it still has a long list of ingredients including HFCS. It’s a soda Often promoted by the athletes, but we can’t really imagine LeBron and friends guzzling a can of carbonated corn syrup before a game…
5. Blue Sky Black Cherry
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 110 calories, 0 mg sodium, 27 g carbs (26 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Filtered Water, Invert Cane Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors
If you want to sip on something cherry-flavored, this is the soda you go for, as it’s the least offensive of the other options on this list.
4. Moxie
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 100 calories, 25 mg sodium, 25 g carbs, (25 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup and/or sugar, natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, sodium benzoate (a preservative), gentian root extractives, phosphoric acid, caffeine, and citric acid.
Known for its distinguished bitter flavor, this soda was one of the first to be mass-produced in the U.S. Whether or not you like the unique taste of this old fashioned cola, it isn’t the worst thing you could drink for your health. In fact, gentian root extractives, the ingredient that gives it its bitter flavor, is actually used for medicinal properties, and has been shown to calm an upset stomach.
3. Dry Sparkling Ginger
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 65 calories, 0 mg sodium, 16 g carbs (16 g sugar)
Ingredients: Purified Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Flavor, Phosphoric Acid
A small list of ingredients is something we can get behind. The ginger flavor is promised to be “bold and spicy,” too.
2. Dry Sparkling Vanilla
Nutrition (12 fl oz bottle): 60 calories, 0 mg sodium, 16 g carbs (16 g sugar)
Ingredients: Purified Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Natural Flavor, Phosphoric Acid
The vanilla variation of this soda sneaks ahead of its ginger sister flavor, thanks to it being 5 calories less. Think of this drink as the better-for-you cream soda.
1. Coca-Cola Life
Nutrition (12 fl oz can): 90 calories, 35 mg sodium, 24 g carbs (24 g sugar)
Ingredients: Carbonated Water, Cane Sugar, Caramel Color, Natural Flavors, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (to Protect Taste), Caffeine, *stevia Leaf Extract (Steviol Glycosides Processed From Stevia Leaf)
Although Coke Life is sweetened with stevia, it’s certainly not a “diet” beverage. A can of this still packs 24 grams of sugar and is 90 calories. Still, that’s much less than other traditional colas on the market. And the ingredients are pretty simple, too—sweetened with cane sugar and stevia, there’s no HFCS, which is a bonus. At less than 100 calories a can, this is definitely the best of the regular sodas (although that still doesn’t make it healthy!)
109/109 SLIDES